The Murder of Rhoderie Estrada

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
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**Kristi Lee** (0:21)
Hi there, I hope you're well. Today is the last episode before the summer slowdown, and I'm bringing you one of the most heartbreaking and senseless cases we've ever covered. This is a crime that devastated a lovely family and terrified their community, and it might never have been solved at all if it wasn't for the work of some quick thinking forensic investigators. We often hear about the detectives who lead the investigation, the Crown prosecutors who present the evidence, and the defence lawyers who challenge it in court. But there's painstaking work happening behind the scenes that can often be overlooked. The crime scene investigators who photograph, document and collect fragile evidence before it can be lost or contaminated. The forensic analysts who compare fingerprints and minute detail. The scientists who analyse tiny traces of physical and biological material. The pathologists who speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves. In today's case, the forensic work didn't just support the investigation, it was central to everything that followed. An additional content warning before we begin. This episode includes graphic details that may be difficult to hear. Please take care while listening. And if you know anyone connected to this case, please respect their privacy.
It's after 9pm on Friday, May 25th of 2018, and Gerald Aquintey is almost finished work. He's the co-owner and chef of Tanuno, a popular Filipino restaurant in Toronto's St. James Town neighbourhood, near Sherbourne Station.
Typically, Gerald closes the restaurant and goes straight home to his family, but tonight, he's headed to the grand opening of his cousin's restaurant. He calls his wife of 14 years to check in before he leaves. Her name is Rhoderie Estrada. Her loved ones call her Derry.
She's at home in East York with their three daughters, just a couple of kilometres away from the restaurant. When Gerald calls, she's folding laundry in the living room, watching her Korean soap opera. Their daughters are getting ready for bed. He reminds his wife that he's going to be out late. He likely won't get home until after midnight, and he'll call her when he arrives. It's part of their little safety routine for nights like this. The front door has two internal locks that can only be opened from the inside. Rhoderie will make sure they're both locked when she goes to bed, and she'll leave her cell phone on the bedside table. When Gerald gets home, he'll call and wake her up to come down and let them in the house. It's just a little extra protection for peace of mind at night when Rhoderie and the girls are home asleep by themselves.
The couple says good night to each other, and Gerald heads over to his cousin's restaurant. He's technically not just a guest at the grand opening, he's there to help. Gerald Aquintey is well respected in the local Filipino business community, and he's bringing knowledge from building his own restaurant to help family members have a successful opening at theirs. After all, he had that same help when he opened Nuno from his wife's family. Rhoderie Estrada's family moved to Toronto from the Philippines in the early 1980s when she and her siblings were young. They opened a small variety store and bakery in the district known as Little Manila around Bathurst and Wilson, which put them on the map as a pioneering Filipino immigrant family. The Filipino community is close-knit. A belief at the heart of their culture is the idea that your responsibility extends beyond yourself and that caring for others is an integral part of who you are. The Tagalog word for it is kapwa, shared identity, not individualism but connection to others. Rhoderie Estrada embodied kapwa in every aspect of her life. She was known as a natural caregiver, a nurturer, deeply compassionate. She became a registered nurse and began working at St. Joseph's Health Centre in the dialysis unit. Rhoderie became a favourite among her patients and colleagues alike, known for her positivity and her calm, welcoming approach even in high stress situations. She would end up being promoted to leader of the dialysis unit.
She met Gerald Aquintey when she was in college. He had also immigrated from the Philippines and he was drawn to her strength and her sense of direction, the way she knew exactly what she wanted from life. They built that life together.
Their wedding was a joyful celebration surrounded by family and friends. And in the years that followed, they had three daughters and settled into a neat two story home in East York. It quickly became a gathering place. Rhoderie and Gerald loved hosting holiday family dinners or backyard barbecues to welcome other immigrant families to a new country, Kapwa in action. Gerald had always dreamed of opening a restaurant of his own to help share Filipino culture with Toronto. In 2015, that dream became a reality when he and a business partner transformed an old laundromat not far from their home into a small Filipino grocery and takeout spot. He had Rhoderie's full support and the help and knowledge of her family. They named the restaurant Tanuno, a Tagalog word meaning to cook by extreme heat under a grill or over a hot fire. It quickly grew into something special, known for its warm, intimate atmosphere and authentic food. Tanuno became especially popular for Khmer meals, Filipino feasts of grilled seafood, meats, vegetables and garlic rice, eaten with your hands and shared among friends and family. Running a restaurant meant that Gerald was home in the mornings to help get their girls ready for school, but of course he worked late into the evenings. So Rhoderie worked the early shift at hospital to make sure she's finished in time to pick the kids up from school. She's a deeply devoted mother, taking her daughters to swimming lessons, piano practice and making sure they're supported in every way. That spring of 2018 is a busy time for the family. In just a few days, Gerald and Rhoderie will be celebrating the confirmation of their middle daughter, who's 12 years old. The following month will be their eldest daughter's graduation. She's 14 They're also having their basement renovated, it's a dug up, dusty mess of construction down there. But it will be converted into an entertainment area.